Match Thread: Brighton v Liverpool

[Steveo]

The squad was barely used this season. Slot picked Klopp’s strongest 11 at every opportunity- even while risking player fatigue.

It was clear Arne Slot agrees that the squad was thin. Either that OR he was just taking the piss

Slot also agrees with me that Endo is an emergency only option. Missed out on Zubimendi and put Grav in the DM.

Klopp’s best starters used exclusively except to cups or dead rubbers.

The entire season is testimony to my assertion. Klopp was wasted trying to make it work - Slot came in and with a more pragmatic and higher quality game - we managed to get the job done - in the league at least. Huge risks on injuries taken BUT zero challenge from the usual suspects.

Go and argue in the corner with all of that.

[CCTV]

You & Slot may agree on Endo.

Slot & Klopp did not agree on Endo & Grav.

Grav got 35 more PL starts than Endo under Slot this year.
Grav got 8 less PL starts than Endo under Klopp last year.

It's only taken a year to see you do a 180 on several positions again.

The fsg squad that saw Klopp walk early in September2024, became. The Klopp title winning squad.

That ArtetaFamTV's spending meant Klopp couldn't but be "overtaken", becomes, "Slot came in and with a more pragmatic and higher quality game - we managed to get the job done."

On Gravenberch: you said...

In January 2024

Looks like an athlete first - footballer second. That isn't enough at Bayern.

Shouldn't be enough here either - but Klopp is such a miracle worker anything is possible. He could end up being a crucial component

December 2024

Underperformed at Bayern too - might have just realised last summer. It’s time to turn all that potential into the real deal.

Does coincide however with a Dutch manager taking over.

May 2025......

Grav was in Klopps strongest 11 last year and all Slot has done is picked Klopps best 11

No integrity, No substance.

[CCTV]

Bumpity bump

[Steveo]

Don't bang your head there mate... Take care..

As we all know full well and even questioned during the season itself... Arne Slot used Klopp's strongest 11 in virtually every single game that mattered across the entirety of the season. So much so the rest were left to warm the bench. While it's hard for most of us to grasp .... just what part of this you seem to struggle with... I can at least try to understand and offer some comfort..

Take a look at this.. Get one.. Should help you get through the long and lonely summer..

[IMG][/IMG]

[CCTV]

Using minutes played during both our 23/24 & 24/25 PL season.
You see 8 players in both top 11 minutes played lists.
Alisson, Trent, VVD, Robbo, MacA, Sobozla, Diaz & Salah.
You see 3 players appear under Slot & 3 others under Klopp to make up their 11s.
Endo, Gomez & Núñez v Grav, Konate & Gakpo.

Gakpo over Núñez & Grav over Endo are 2 clear examples of differences between Klopp & Slots best 11s.

I've given you you're own words on Grav, and yet you don't accept them.
Something happened summer 2024, now nothing happened 2024, Steveo logic.

Grav was valued at €35 mill in May 2024,
€40 in August 2024
€75 million in May 2025

From August 2024 Grav got 3 times as many PL starts under Slot, playing nearly 3 times as many minutes, an extra 2,000+ minutes in PL, made PL tots, ypots and won a PL title, number 20
What a great time to be a red

[Kev0909]

Stevo mate, CCTV is on a wind-up he's Jockstraps main account, don't rise to the troll .... he's come out with more bizzare things by the day........

I can't search posts because for some reason it's disabled but didn't he say mo salah is shit or something crazy ?????

I use to think he's a smart poster and enjoyed reading his posts/debates but he's turned into a right loopy

[justme]

More bizarre things??you can't get more bizarre than him claiming Gakpo had a better season than Salah..

[Kev0909]

More bizarre things??you can't get more bizarre than him claiming Gakpo had a better season than Salah..

that was it cheers

[CCTV]

Stevo mate, CCTV is on a wind-up he's Jockstraps main account, don't rise to the troll .... he's come out with more bizzare things by the day........

I can't search posts because for some reason it's disabled but didn't he say mo salah is shit or something crazy ?????

I use to think he's a smart poster and enjoyed reading his posts/debates but he's turned into a right loopy

I've said Grav was not in Klopps strongest 11 last year, but was in Slots strongest 11 this year.

Grav's rise under Slot has been widely acknowledged.

I see steveo has yet to address the stats or his quoted words.

[Steveo]

“I cannot do it again and again and again.”

We all know who Klopp's "strongest 11" are. Slot clearly does - he picked them - over and over and over again. .

And we got away with it THIS TIME. No key injuries - thank the lord - and little in the way of a challenge from rivals. Seems the men at the top have finally taken heed of this below... What else could it be THIS summer that has seen a C change in going for top targets?....? Why not do as we did in summer 2019? or 2020?... .



Here is the man broken by the workload…. And he says something extremely poignant just before the 8 minute mark. With 30 games of the season left… He is suggesting that “nobody noticed in the last few months.” when referring to how things might change going forward now that everyone knows he is leaving.

This means - either he decided he was off at the start of the season - during the transfer window or even before (as I suggested late in 2022/23) AND that the players almost certainly already knew from seasons start.

This does not take any great intelligence to unearth - so you should be in…. it takes no reading between the lines - the man fooking says it - for anyone who isn’t in receipt of an agenda and who is actually sodding well LISTENING…!


The reality is - coping with the expectations post 2020 with a squad that had allowed players to run up too many miles - a midfield that had grafted its bollox off - and was smashed. He wasn’t getting the help in recruitment…. and the season before he left the team was as a shadow of what it had been and Jurgen Klopp absolutely felt that burden.

So - he ran himself into the ground trying to make that squad competitive - then that summer (the one where he seemingly already decided he would leave early) he misses his primary targets yet STILL builds a team that was fighting on 4 fronts in April… A side that took 2 points less than the same squad - His squad - Jurgen Klopp’s squad - managed this season.




Jürgen Klopp’s transformation of Liverpool Football Club from a mid-table Premier League side into English champions and one of Europe’s elite teams is a remarkable story of strategic vision, cultural overhaul, and shrewd management. However, his departure before the end of his contract in 2025, driven by exhaustion, highlights the intense pressures of modern football management and the challenges of sustaining success without adequate backing. Below, I’ll break down how Klopp achieved this transformation, the lack of sufficient support that strained him, and the factors that led to his early exit, tailored for someone new to the topic.

How Klopp Transformed Liverpool

When Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, the club was languishing in 10th place in the Premier League, inconsistent, and far from the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s. Over the next eight years, he turned Liverpool into a powerhouse, winning the Premier League in 2019-20 (their first league title in 30 years), the Champions League in 2019, and other trophies like the FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup. Here’s how he did it, despite a mid-table net spend:

1. Cultural and Tactical Revolution:
• Philosophy: Klopp introduced his high-energy, high-pressing “gegenpressing” style, where players aggressively win back the ball immediately after losing it. This fast, attacking football suited Liverpool’s passionate fanbase and became a hallmark of his teams.
• Team Spirit: He fostered a strong sense of unity, describing his players as “mentality monsters.” He rebuilt the club’s belief, making Anfield a fortress again, with fans playing a key role in intimidating opponents.
• Player Development: Klopp maximized the potential of existing players. For example, he transformed Roberto Firmino into a world-class “false nine,” Jordan Henderson into a dynamic captain, and young Trent Alexander-Arnold into a creative right-back who redefined the position.

2. Smart Recruitment with Limited Funds:
• Liverpool’s net spend (money spent on players minus money received from sales) from 2015 to 2023 was around £300 million, significantly lower than rivals like Manchester City (£600m+), Manchester United (£700m+), and Chelsea (£800m+). Klopp and Liverpool’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Michael Edwards, focused on value-for-money signings.
• Key acquisitions included:
• Sadio Mané (£34m, 2016): A dynamic winger who became a goal-scoring machine.
• Mohamed Salah (£36.9m, 2017): A bargain from Roma, who became one of the world’s best forwards.
• Virgil van Dijk (£75m, 2018): A transformative centre-back who solidified Liverpool’s defense.
• Alisson Becker (£66m, 2018): A world-class goalkeeper who brought stability.
• These signings were funded partly by selling players like Philippe Coutinho (£142m to Barcelona in 2018), showing Klopp’s ability to balance the books while building a squad.
• Unlike rivals who spent heavily on multiple stars, Liverpool targeted specific players who fit Klopp’s system, avoiding the scattergun approach of clubs like Manchester United.

3. Tactical Evolution and Success:
• Klopp’s teams evolved from thrilling but defensively frail to balanced juggernauts. The 2018-19 season saw Liverpool win the Champions League, beating Tottenham 2-0 in the final, and they amassed 97 Premier League points, only losing the title to Manchester City by a point.
• In 2019-20, Liverpool dominated the Premier League, winning it by 18 points with a relentless style, losing just three games.
• Klopp’s ability to adapt his tactics (e.g., using Alexander-Arnold’s passing to create chances) and maintain intensity made Liverpool feared across Europe.

4. Fan and Club Connection:
• Klopp’s charisma and emotional connection with fans—famously calling himself the “Normal One” on arrival—rebuilt Liverpool’s identity. He embraced the city’s working-class ethos, making the club feel like a community again, which translated into a psychological edge on the pitch.

Lack of Sufficient Backing

Despite these achievements, Klopp faced challenges due to insufficient support from Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which ultimately contributed to his exhaustion:

1. Financial Constraints:
• FSG’s model emphasized sustainability, relying on revenue generation rather than heavy owner investment, unlike state-backed clubs like Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain. While this approach was prudent, it limited Liverpool’s ability to compete in the transfer market during critical periods.
• In the early 2020s, Liverpool’s squad aged, and key players like Mané, Firmino, and Henderson declined or left. The club was slow to refresh the midfield, a critical area. For example:
• In 2020-21, injuries to defenders like Van Dijk exposed squad depth issues, yet Liverpool didn’t sign replacements in January.
• The midfield trio of Henderson, Fabinho, and Thiago struggled with age and injuries by 2022-23, but significant signings (e.g., Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai) only came in 2023, after a poor season (fifth place, no trophies).
• Klopp often had to “make do,” relying on academy players or budget signings, which stretched his resources compared to rivals with deeper squads.

2. Competitive Pressure:
• Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola and backed by Abu Dhabi’s wealth, set an unrelenting standard, winning five Premier League titles from 2017 to 2023. Liverpool’s 2019-20 title was a Herculean effort, but City’s financial muscle allowed them to refresh their squad more consistently (e.g., signing Erling Haaland in 2022).
• Emerging threats like Newcastle (backed by Saudi investment) and Arsenal’s resurgence added to the pressure, requiring Liverpool to overperform to stay competitive.

3. Internal Challenges:
• Klopp took on more than just coaching duties. He was heavily involved in recruitment, contract negotiations, and maintaining squad morale, roles that other clubs delegate to larger backroom teams. This hands-on approach, while effective, drained him.
• The departure of key allies like Michael Edwards (2022) and Julian Ward (sporting director, 2023) disrupted Liverpool’s recruitment machine, forcing Klopp to bridge gaps himself.
Why Klopp Left Early
Klopp announced his departure in January 2024, leaving at the end of the 2023-24 season, despite his contract running until 2026. He cited exhaustion as the primary reason, saying, “I cannot do it again and again and again.” Here’s why:

1. Physical and Mental Toll:
• Managing Liverpool’s high-intensity style required constant energy. Klopp’s animated touchline presence and relentless drive to compete with richer clubs took a toll over nine years.
• The 2022-23 season was particularly grueling, with Liverpool struggling (fifth place) due to an aging squad and injuries. Klopp had to overhaul the midfield in 2023-24 while still chasing trophies, which he described as “running a marathon at a sprinter’s pace.”
• Despite a strong 2023-24 season (winning the League Cup and finishing third), the cumulative stress of maintaining elite performance with limited resources wore him down.

2. Lack of Structural Support:
• Klopp felt he was carrying too much of the club’s burden. Without consistent investment or a robust support system (e.g., after Edwards’ exit), he was stretched thin, managing not just tactics but also long-term planning.
• FSG’s cautious spending, while fiscally responsible, didn’t match the ambition of Klopp’s vision to keep Liverpool at the top, especially against state-backed rivals.

3. Personal Sacrifice:
• Klopp spoke of missing time with his family and feeling unable to continue giving 100% to the job. The emotional weight of leading Liverpool through highs (Champions League glory) and lows (near misses in 2018-19 and 2021-22) left him depleted.
• He chose to prioritize his health and well-being, a rare decision in football, where managers often cling to their roles.

Legacy and Context
Klopp left Liverpool in a strong position, with a rejuvenated squad (new signings like Mac Allister and Szoboszlai) and a League Cup in 2023-24, but his exit underscored the unsustainable demands on modern managers. His mid-table net spend achievements—winning eight major trophies while spending less than rivals—highlight his genius. However, the lack of deeper investment and structural support meant he couldn’t sustain the miracle indefinitely.

For someone new to this, think of Klopp as a chef who turned a modest kitchen into a Michelin-star restaurant with limited ingredients, but the constant pressure to produce gourmet dishes without enough help or resources eventually wore him out. He left Liverpool better than he found it, but his early departure was a reminder that even the best need support to keep going.